Author Topic: Advice: Landlocked Wannabe Waterman Seeks WindSUP Soulmate for Summer Fling  (Read 5802 times)

ericjayowsley

  • Waikiki Status
  • *
  • Posts: 25
    • View Profile
    • Email
Thank you in advance for your advice. I am looking for the proverbial quiver-of-one board to paddle, surf and sail. I am an accomplished paddler, a competent surfer and a proficient dinghy sailor keen to learn windsurfing.

Skill aside, for this purchase, I am considering myself a beginner in all disciplines for the simple fact that my time on the water is never dictated by optimizing location, weather or wave conditions. I live in the mountains of Virginia and get to spend three non-sequential weeks a summer trying to squeeze in as much time on the water as humanly possible. During these vacations, I surf what there is to surf within paddle distance out my rented back door -- generally mushy, often blown-out, east coast knee-slappers. On the other side of the house, I have access to a protected creek with miles of flatwater paddling. The addition of a windsurfer to my repertoire will allow me to stay on the water longer and in a wider range of conditions. I think I am an ideal candidate for a windSUP, especially since I realistically can only bring one board with me.

I have identified the Starboard Whopper WindSUP and Starboard Blend WindSUP as the two boards that best meet my needs. Those needs are:

  • Ability to catch waves. There are undoubtedly models that surf better when the surf is good, but I don’t ever want to find myself unable to enjoy what little swell may be running.
  • Ability to cover distance on flat water. Speed is not a concern here. Quite literally anything will do for me for this use.
  • Ability to learn to windsurf and to progress to free riding. Neither are planing boards, but that trade off seems acceptable to me to keep paddle-surf capabilities.

Regarding need 3 above, these two Starboard models offer Tuttle box center dagger fins for upwind capability with a plug for more advanced windsurfing or wave surfing. This seems to me to be a key selling point of these boards for my use. Relatively uncompromised performance for paddling, while still providing the lateral resistance needed to help a novice windsurfer make it home.

I also like that both boards come in the ASAP (high density EVA foam) construction for maximum durability. Again, thinking of my “get on the water at all costs” mindset during my vacation, dings and repairs just aren’t worth the risk.

Starboard succinctly describes both boards as “good all around,” with the Whopper additionally described as “more maneuverable” and the Blend as “more glide.”  One is shorter and wider, the other longer and narrower. I see benefits of each for my intended use, but would like to hear more from this forum for help in distinguishing the merits of each board. Or, for suggestions of other makes and models that should be included in my research.

Many thanks,
Eric

SUP Sports ®

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 3216
  • Stoked For Life ®
    • View Profile
    • SUP Sports ®
    • Email
Aloha Eric,
I have lots of personal experience with both of the SB models that you have mentioned here...

IMO, you can scratch the Whopper for several reasons...including, it's too curvy of an outline for tracking...the rails are too soft (50/50) for pointing or going to weather under sail...it's way too rockered out...it will push H20 under sail and resist getting on a plane...again, personal experience...

That said, if you were a rather big guy and were only concentrating on SUP surfing...it could be a consideration...

The Blend with more parallel rails and longer waterline would be better for SUP and learning to WS...but, still not a fan of the soft (50/50) rails...
Still, without knowing your weight/height...it may or may not be a fit...

What you are asking for sounds pretty similar to the custom "Swiss Army Knife"...convertible multi-sport Hammer board that we just built for another Eric up in Minnesota with a Tuttle box...check this out now that Eric has received it and is getting some sessions on it...

I think that it's as close to the Holy Grail of a "One Design"...do-it-all...water toy that's ever existed...

http://blog.surfingsports.com/2017/06/minnesota-eric-stoked-life.html
Mahalos...{:~)

WARDOG ®
Owner/CEO  StandUp Paddle Sports®  &   SurfingSports®.com, Inc.

(805)962-SUPS (7877) store
(888)805-9978 toll free

Retail Store:
Standup Paddle Sports, LLC
121 Santa Barbara St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

starman

  • Peahi Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 869
    • View Profile
Quote
Neither are planing boards, but that trade off seems acceptable to me to keep paddle-surf capabilities.

That is not a good trade off. You most certainly want the board to plane otherwise you will never get to experience the joy of windsurfing. Boards with too much rocker just plow and the result is a lot of load from the pull of the sail. Not fun and not a good path to getting into more advanced sailing.

Anyway there seems to be a few more choices for you, Maybe the RRD V1 or the Exocet windsup along with a few others. Although it seems the windsups have shifted to inflatables for some of the manufactures.


ericjayowsley

  • Waikiki Status
  • *
  • Posts: 25
    • View Profile
    • Email
Aloha Eric,
I have lots of personal experience with both of the SB models that you have mentioned here...

The Blend with more parallel rails and longer waterline would be better for SUP and learning to WS...but, still not a fan of the soft (50/50) rails...
Still, without knowing your weight/height...it may or may not be a fit...

Warren,

Thanks for the reply and thoughts on the Whopper and Blend. I've been inquiring separately about your Hammer WindSUP, as well. Can you compare and contrast the Blend and your Hammer for use as both surfboards and windsurfers? One of my concerns with the Blend is its length for surf. I have a 10' Uli Lopez that I use in the surf now. I like it quite a bit, but I find that on the rare occasion I get to surf it in decent waves, I struggle a bit to keep the nose from pearling and I find that I can't turn it from the middle of the board. The obvious solution is to get back over the tail, but (probably due to lack of skill) I find the board a little squirrly with a foot over the fins, especially if there is a stiff off-shore breeze, which seems to be the prevailing condition where I surf. I also feel like the board and my 6'3 frame present enough wind resistance to make it tough to drop in at times if the wind is up.

I liked the idea of the shorter/wider Whopper with it's pronounced rocker and nose concave for that reason. But I don't like the idea of it being too much of a slog under sail.

Thanks for your input.
-Eric

Dusk Patrol

  • Teahupoo Status
  • ******
  • Posts: 1176
  • PNW
    • View Profile
Hey Eric,
You might consider expanding your search. Naish and Fanatic each have a history of embedding mast attachments in various models. Maybe some of our fellow zoners have specific recommendations.
That aside, I've paddled and surfed the Blend, and it would be a fine choice...
« Last Edit: July 06, 2017, 12:58:58 PM by Dusk Patrol »
RS 14x26; JL Destroyers 9'8 & 8'10; BluePlanet 9'4; JL Super Frank 8'6

SUP Sports ®

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 3216
  • Stoked For Life ®
    • View Profile
    • SUP Sports ®
    • Email
Aloha Eric,
In a nutshell...the Blend is going to kinda shlog along with a sail...like starman says, the feeling will be underwhelming...whereas, the Hammer planes up better than any windSUP that I have ridden or seen...since first installing a mast track on a SUP back in 2005...we have a number of testimonials and videos on our website that prove this out...

https://youtu.be/eY0CVCSmKYY

https://youtu.be/ApuSJP18BJ0

https://youtu.be/_0QmOG4nD1s

http://supsports.com/standup-paddle-boards/hammer-series

IMO, there's no comparison in the surf...again, the Hammer is is usually ridden shorter and wider than the standard 11'2" x 30" Blend...way more maneuverability and performance...

At 6'3", board width for you definitely comes into play for surf in crappy messed up "real world" conditions...

https://youtu.be/DAQQzbIQOMQ

https://youtu.be/fbUsAXhO3Lc

https://youtu.be/roAvDHU_ohI

https://youtu.be/t_yS4pbc5C8

https://youtu.be/zTV-_CjeB3I

Lastly, keeping the spirit of Independence Day alive...the Hammer with mast track and Tuttle box is American made...

http://blog.surfingsports.com/2017/07/independence-day.html
Mahalos...{:~)

WARDOG ®
Owner/CEO  StandUp Paddle Sports®  &   SurfingSports®.com, Inc.

(805)962-SUPS (7877) store
(888)805-9978 toll free

Retail Store:
Standup Paddle Sports, LLC
121 Santa Barbara St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

nalu-sup

  • Sunset Status
  • ****
  • Posts: 348
    • View Profile
    • Email
I would consider The One by Sunova. A friend rented the 9'5" here on Maui, and I have surfed it, distance paddled it, and windsupped it. It was fun and easy for distance paddling and sight seeing. It was remarkably fun surfing in small waves; very easy to catch the waves, and really surprised me at how well it surfed for what I think of as a very large board. It also windsupped better than most SUPs. I was able to easily get it planing in 15 -17 mph winds with a 5.9 sail. It also sailed very well sub-planing in lighter winds, but I don't think that it would be much fun in winds much over 20 mph; no board without footstraps is going to be much fun in those conditions. I caught a few waves on it while windsupping, and it really delighted me at wavesailing. Like any SUP board, the rocker causes some drag while planing windsupping, so there is not that total release of drag that you feel on a dedicated windsurf board, but it was far better than most SUPs. I would not worry about the centerboard. With the standard US fin box on this board, you can put in a large enough center fin to get you upwind easily. Because of their length, I have found that SUPs are easier to windsurf upwind than many dedicated windsurf boards when sub-planing. Check out the threads from Supthecreek on The One. He has some nice videos of distance paddling it, as well as surfing it. He is a big boy, so you can see that the 9'5" at 160 liters has plenty of volume for him.
Other minor advantages are that the Liftsup handle makes it much easier to carry Sunovas in and out of the water when attached to a sail, since most SUPs do not have footstraps which we use when carrying windsurf boards. Also, Sunvova uses an actual mast track to attach the sail (very short), which I think is a much more solid attachment than the single hole attachments that some brands use.
If you really want to stick with Starboard, I would add the 9'8" Element to your list, as long as you are well under 200 lbs. It comes with the options of footstraps for windsurfing, which is a huge plus if you are going to be planing much. I have an older version of that board that I enjoy going out in very light winds and practicing windsurf freestyle on. However, it does not paddle, surf, of plane nearly as well as The One.
Regarding Dusk Patrols thoughts. I have surfed and windsupped a few of the Fanatics. They work okay, but The One does everything better. I have heard about some people having trouble with the durability of the mast inserts on the Naish, but I have not used them.
The one downside to the Sunovas, is that while they are very well built for light performance boards, they will require a little bit more care than a heavier bullet proof board; the price of performance.
8'7" Sunova Flow 
8'8" Sunova SP25
9'0" Elua Makani
9'0" Tabou SupaSurf 
14' SIC Bullet 2020

mdsurf

  • Peahi Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 720
    • View Profile
I too would have you check out the ONE by Sunova.  Me being a bigger guy I went with the 10'2" One and it is everything Nalu says it is.  I have paddled it distance and  for fun and for surf.  Last weekend a friend mounted a sail to it and it sailed well also.

ospreysup

  • Rincon Status
  • ***
  • Posts: 108
    • View Profile
    • Email


You may want to reach out to JimK. He sells both Starboards and Sunovas but more importantly he has great knowledge of boards, Sup and windsurfing. No doubt he will guide you to the right board. He's usually good with a zoner special too! You can message him on the zone or look him up at Extreme Windsurfing.

ericjayowsley

  • Waikiki Status
  • *
  • Posts: 25
    • View Profile
    • Email
Thanks all for the thoughtful suggestions. I spent a long weekend in Chattanooga, TN, scouting a future move. The Tennessee River flows right through downtown and dams both up and down river from the city make for two sizeable lakes within 20 minutes drive time. I did some paddling downtown and paid particular attention to wind and currents, thinking how one might be able to windsurf there. In my 3 days, I observed a steady but light wind from essentially the same heading each day and throughout the day. Wind speed topped out at about 10mph, but 5-6 was more the norm. I know these are not conditions windsurfers swoon over, but I was pretty stoked. Coming from the mountains with no sizeable body of water nearby, this is something I can work with.

If I were to say that light wind cruising on a board I could also surf was the main goal, would the Blend be a good option, or would you all still recommend the more progressive windsups mentioned above? Or should I just give up on multi-purpose and get a dedicated longboard? Or explore the light wind planing world of formula boards?

Again, thanks,
Eric

yugi

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 2228
    • View Profile
For such light winds and no surf in the equation consider a board with a kickdown daggerboard. In such light winds a windsup without a daggerboard will slip downwind too much. I have a Naish Nalu 11’4 x30 with mastfoot plug - v similar to Starby Blend. Not great in light wind, not great in bigger winds either as it just doesn’t plane.

An interesting option is RRDs Longrider. Same length as Starby Blend but 27.5” wide. Will windsurf better in light winds, plane better and paddles better as it’s a bit less wide.

Even a very high performance [and expensive] 10m sail and formula board you’d want just a bit more wind for planning. You’d have more fun kitefoiling.


Ichabod Spoonbill

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 2174
  • Hudson Valley, NY
    • View Profile
    • HVH2O
    • Email
I would also look at the Kona windsurfer. It's not a great SUP, but it's as close as you can get to an all around longboard. It's well designed, and there's a big one-design community behind it.

What everyone is saying about the trade offs is true. It's really handy to find a good jack-of-all-trades board.

I would also look at some of the Bic boards. These are lower-end but well designed boards. They make a 10'6" and 11'6" wind SUP. If this is just for the summer, maybe you just need something basic?
Pau Hana 11' Big EZ Ricochet (Beluga)

 


SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal